MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Russia reopens meat market to Argentina, closes Australia

Russia has re-opened its market for meat products from an Argentine and a Paraguayan company and banned such imports from five Australian companies, the veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement.

According to the Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision report, Argentine enterprise N3778 and Paraguayan enterprise N2 were authorized to provide their produce to Russia. The decision is subject to safety guarantees provided by veterinary services of the aforementioned countries, and the results of official investigations held by the services in relation to these enterprises. The supply from Argentine and Paraguayan plants was banned from May 7, 2008 and September 18 respectively, due to violations of Russian veterinary requirements, reports Interfax . Rosselkhoznadzor also reported the introduction of a ban on five Australian meat packing plants. The detection of coliform bacteria in frozen veal in the course of laboratory research was the reason for the ban.